SOVIET SONG (4.10) stands head-and-shoulders above the majority of her opponents in Ascot's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a race in which I believe James Fanshawe's filly will confirm her position as the leading all-age miler in Europe.

Described by her jockey, Johnny Murtagh, as a "machine", Soviet Song has twice beaten the dual English and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Attraction, who has declined to take her on again in favour of an engagement at Newmarket next week.

It's a great pity that Mark Johnston's star filly is not turning up, however it does make the task of the selection somewhat easier, especially as there's guaranteed to be bags of early pace with the presence of the hard-pulling confirmed front-runner Rakti in the 13-runner line-up.

Soviet Song, a dyed-in-the-wool hold-up horse, needs a target to aim at and with cool-hand Murtagh at the helm, the four-year-old mare will be in no hurry to make her move.

But when Johnny does press the button the response is normally electric.

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